Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2007-08: Matt Bartkowski assumed a leadership role with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL. Saw a big rise in production in comparison to the season prior; scored four goals and 37 assists. Added a goal and four assists in a eight playoff games. Bartkowski was drafted in the seventh round, 190th overall, of the 2008 NHL Draft by the Florida Panthers.

2008-09: Bartkowski played for Ohio State University. In 41 games for the Buckeyes, he scored 5 goals and added 15 assists for 20 points. Bartkowski was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team. He was twice named CCHA Rookie of the Week.

2009-10: Bartkowski played 39 games for Ohio State as a sophomore and was the Buckeyes' top point-producing defenseman, scoring 6 goals and adding 12 assists for 18 points. The Bruins obtained his rights from the Florida Panthers in a March 2010 deal that saw Byron Bitz go to Florida. Bartkowski was signed to an entry-level deal by the Bruins in April following the college season; foregoing his final two seasons of NCAA eligibility.

2010-11: Bartkowski made his NHL debut with the Bruins in January 2011 and appeared in six NHL games while spending the bulk of his first pro season with Providence in the AHL. Bartkowski had no points and was -1 plus/minus with 4 PMs for the Bruins and was also with the club during their Stanley Cup run; but saw no playoff action. Bartkowski played 69 games for Providence and scored 5 goals with 18 assists and was -18 with 42 PMs.

2011-12: Bartkowski's career trajectory seemed to plateau a bit in his second season after making his NHL debut with the Stanley Cup champs the previous year. He opened the season with Boston, appearing in three games before being sent to AHL Providence —where he spent the rest of the year. He was minus-two with no points nor penalty minutes, averaging just over six minutes of ice time, while with Boston. He played 50 games for Providence; suffering a season-ending "lower body injury" at the end of February. Bartkowski finished with an even plus-minus and was second amongst Providence defensemen with 19 assists while scoring 3 goals and collecting 38 penalty minutes. Providence missed the AHL playoffs; finishing fourth in the Atlantic Division.

Talent Analysis

Bartkowski is a strong two-way defender with good mobility and size. He plays a robust game and uses his body effectively along the walls and in open ice. Has a good outlet game and knows how to support the offense, but isn’t a real pace pusher offensively. Defensive game is strong, he’s a good one-on-one defender who knows how to maintain good gaps, read the play, and cover passing lanes.

Future

After seeing playing time during the Bruins Stanley Cup run it appears with Andrew Ference now out of the picture that Bartkowski has a legitimate shot of not only cracking the Bruins roster but also a roster spot. He is not going to be handed one though as there are several other players battling for spots. Worst-case scenario for 2013-14 is that he plays first line pairing minutes in Providence.

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Photo: Defenseman Torey Krug has been fantastic during the Boston Bruins playoff run, posting four goals and two assists through 11 games. (courtesy of Robin Alam/Icon SMI)

The Boston Bruins had several players step up and have big post-seasons, but none have made a greater impact than Torey Krug. With multiple injuries to the Boston Blue line, the Bruins called upon the likes of Dougie Hamilton, Matt Bartkowski, and Krug to fill the void. When Dennis Seidenberg and Andrew Ference returned however, Krug remained.

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Photo: (left to right) Ryan Spooner, Dougie Hamilton, and Jared Knight are three of the Boston Bruins most promising prospects. Hamilton and Spooner have both spent time in the NHL this season. (courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Boston Bruins have used the NHL draft, trades, and free agency to populate their prospect pool with a diverse group of players who are at various stages of their development. The emphasis recently has been on solidifying their defense and goaltending, with those two positions now deep in talent and among the strengths of the organization.

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Photo: Goaltender Jacob Markstrom is one of the top goaltending prospects currently playing North American hockey. Markstrom was selected by the Florida Panthers 31st overall in the 2008 NHL Draft. (courtesy of Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Florida Panthers went into the 2008 NHL draft without a first-round pick, having traded away the rights to that pick in a package that brought Tomas Vokoun to Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers (under then general manager Jacques Martin) made a sequence of trades that gave them the 31st, 46th, and 80th overall picks, as well as their own fourth (100th overall) and seventh round picks (190th).

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Photo: David Warsofsky is one of several defensemen competing for a spot on the Boston Bruins NHL roster. (Leon T. Switzer/Icon SMI)

The Boston Bruins are not the deepest team in minor league prospects, but some of the ones they do have could be impact prospects sooner than later. Ryan Spooner is off to a great start in Providence as one of the teams top scorers, in only his first year at the professional level. In goal Niklas Svedberg has jumped over Michael Hutchinson, and if he keeps up his solid play could end up being Tuukka Rask's back up sooner rather than later.